Happy Birthday,, Buddy!

I can't believe that Carl turned 12 today. It seems like just yesterday that my little man was born. I remember it like it was yesterday. It was during the 1996 Olympic games. I was on bedrest for my blood pressure, my mom was making sure I was staying off my feet when my water broke (during the high diving event!) Mark and Mom got me to the hospital and my labor hadn't started at all. My doctor wasn't on call (this was a Friday), but he did come by to see me and get me started on pitocin to get labor going. Boy oh boy did labor start! I didn't get my epidural until I was at a 9. By the time the anesthesiologist FINALLY got it in (I think I was pricked 6 times or so before he got it right....), I was at a 10 and ready to push. 52 minutes of pushing and Carl Frederick Finley came into the world at 8:52 pm on Aug. 2, 1996. My water broke at noon, pitocin started at 4pm and pushing started at 8pm. LOL. The most memorable thing was when he was born, he was really crying. The cleaned him up, swaddled him in the blanket, still screaming. When they put him in my arms for the first time and I started talking to him, he stopped crying immediately. He knew his Momma. The look on his face as he gazed at me is forever etched in my mind. I will never forget that.

I love you, Buddy. You always have been and always will be my Buddy. Love you forever, Carl.